Achievement Quote by C.D. Wright
“I think a book-length poem stands about as good a chance as a collection of individual poems in reaching its field of ears. This does not mean I have not found some of them too daunting to read all the way through, but it would seem there ought to be some ambition on the writer's part to create a work that would be "a read" all the way through. If not, all the pleasure belongs to the maker, and that in itself is something, an achievement.”
About This Quote
Source Poetry collection, 1990
Long poems should engage readers throughout, demanding ambition from writers.
In simple terms: Make long works engaging.
Strive for sustained reader interest.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing
- publishing
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you maintain momentum in long works?
- What techniques keep readers hooked?
Length can deter readers.